MA Innovation SchoolsBack-to-School Newsletter - September 2016
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
IN THIS ISSUE
WELCOME BACK MESSAGE
FY17 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
UPCOMING EVENTS
FY16 COMPETITIVE GRANT FUNDING OUTCOMES
HOUSEKEEPING
RESOURCES
CONTACT INFORMATION
WELCOME BACK MESSAGE
The beginning of the school year is always an excellent time to reflect on why we do this important work. The purpose of innovation schools is to create in-district schools that operate with increased autonomy and flexibilities in six key areas: schedule and school year calendar; curriculum, instruction, and assessment; district policies; budget; staffing; and professional development, with the goal of establishing the school conditions that lead to improved teaching and learning. To date, there are 56 approved innovation schools and academies across the Commonwealth serving approximately 19,400 students in 26 school districts. About one-third of Innovation Schools are level three schools that are using the model to improve student outcomes. Redesigning schools to improve school conditions is important work and increases the opportunities for students and families to access high quality public education.
If you haven’t done so already, please take some time to watch Commissioner Mitchell Chester’s back to school video;
Also, please take a moment to review the Commissioner's Back-To-School message. Additionally, we encourage you to read the Commissioner's Weekly Update which contains key updates from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (Department). The Commissioner’s Weekly Update is automatically sent to district superintendents and principals. If you do not have a subscription and would like one, please send an email to with the following information in the body of the email: subscribe ESEUpdate Your Name. (Example: subscribe ESEUpdate John Smith).
We wish your school community a successful 2016-2017 school year!
FY17 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
We would like to report that the innovation schools line item (7061-9011) was included in the final version of the FY17 state budget. In the coming months, we plan to issue at least one Request for Proposal (RFP) to support the planning,implementation,or enhancement innovation schools and academies. It is likely that these grants will be available to be spent from January through June of 2017. We will follow-up with you once we have more information. Please contact Ruth Hersh at with any questions.
UPCOMING EVENTS
DissemiNATION Fair – November 18, 2016 - Devens Common Center, Devens, MA
Mark your calendars for our first DissemiNATION Fair!
It would be great to show off the work that some Innovation schools are doing so well!
Many of you have already filled out surveys from our office which have informed the planning of our first DissemiNATION Fair, supported by our partners, Empowerment Schools (formerly known as the National Center on Time and Learning). This full day event will be an opportunity for schools to share best practices, highlight successful approaches to shared challenges, and learn about what works in other schools across the Commonwealth.
- When: Friday, November 18, 2016
- Where:Devens Conference Center- 31 Andrews Parkway, Devens, Massachusetts
- Who: Teachers and public school leaders primarily from the redesign space (Expanded Learning Time (ELT), Charter, Innovation, and Turnaround). This includes more than 200 schools in more than 20 districts.
- Purpose: To facilitate a professional learning opportunity across public school redesign models.
- Objectives: Share knowledge/best practices gained through public school redesign efforts; improve student achievement and close opportunity gaps for all students; and learn from teachers and school leaders about how the Department and its potential partners can best facilitate continued cross-sector sharing.
This is the survey link to the Call for Proposals:
which will remain open for the next couple of weeks. Just go on and fill in what you think you might want to do. Again, you have so much to offer in terms of best practices and successful strategies, please consider sharing them with the other schools. Again,it would be great to show off the work that some Innovation schools are doing so well!
In the coming weeks, our office will be sending out more detailed information and the link to registration. Please keep an eye out for emails with regard to this event. It promises to be exciting and highly informative!
Webinars: Introduction to the Postsecondary Early Warning Indicator System –September 13thand 16th
The Department invites school and district staff to register for one of two "Introduction to the Postsecondary Early Warning Indicator System" webinars. The webinars will be held on
- 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 13 and
- 10 a.m. Friday, September 16.
For more information see the Resources section below.
FY16 COMPETITIVE GRANT FUNDING OUTCOMES
Due to the funding constraints of this grant cycle, only the top two planning grant applications and the top scoring implementation grant application were recommended for funding. We would like to thank all applicants for taking the time to submit applications.
FY16 Innovation Schools Planning Grant
In FY16, the Department awarded a total of $133,000 in planning grant awards to twoschool districts to provide in-depth support for new and/or conversion school planning processes that are intended to result in break-the-mold innovation schools or academies. The Department expected that these grant awards would facilitate the innovation schools approval process culminating in approved Innovation Plans by June 30, 2016. We are happy to report that both grant recipients successfully completed the innovation schools approval process, and have launched this year.
Planning Grant Recipient List / AmountLowell Public Schools - Lowell High School (9–12) / $65,363
Orange Public Schools - Dexter Park (3–6) / 67,637
Total State Funds / $133,000
FY16 Innovation Schools Implementation Grant
In FY16, the Department awarded a $75,000 implementation grant award to one school district to support the implementation of Claremont Academy. The implementation grant award of $75,000 benefitted approximately 497 students in grades 7–12. The grant will support high-quality implementation and the identified start-up needs of Claremont Academy.
Worcester Public Schools-Claremont Academy (7–12) / $75,000
Total State Funds / $75,000
HOUSEKEEPING
Innovation Schools Coding
As many of you may know, the Department began providing each approved innovation school (new and conversion) and academy with a specific program code in the Student Information Management System (SIMS) to collect demographic and achievement data for students enrolled through a systematic process. This new streamlined approach allowed the Department to create an “Innovation Schools and Academies” drop down option on the Department’s School and District Profile page which allows individuals to search for innovation schools and academies in one centralized location.Please keep in mind that the Department’s ability to collect data specific to innovation school students does not change the reporting structure for districtwide or schoolwide reporting. If you have not already done so, please complete the “Notification of a New Public School” form which can be found at All completed forms must be faxed to781-338-3220 at the Department’s office of Education Data Services, to the attention of Kerrie Anastas. Submission instructions are included on the form.
RESOURCES
Online Courses on Foundations for Inclusive Practice:
The Department has sponsored the creation of two online courses to help educators meet the needs of all learners in inclusive settings. These courses are self-paced and free to Massachusetts educators. The courses are also one way for Massachusetts educators to earn the 15 professional development points in "effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles" that are required to renew a professional license.
The courses are Foundations for Inclusive Practice: Administrator and Foundations for Inclusive Practice: Educator and present a rigorous and engaging sequence of professional development about meeting the needs of all students. Educators can register at the Guidebook for Inclusive Practice website. Districts who are interested in forming communities of practice as a supplement to these courses can fill out this short form.
Early Warning Indicator System Data for 2016-17 Available:
The Department is pleased to announce the release of 2016-17 school year Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) data, including a new student-level report that provides risk levels for high school students related to postsecondary outcomes. All EWIS data are available via Edwin Analytics in the Security Portal.
At this time, EWIS data is available for districts that certified the Student Course Schedule (SCS) and/or School Safety Discipline Report (SSDR) data collections by August 8, 2016.Districts that certify SCS and SSDR by August 27 will receive EWIS data in the next release, which is expected in mid- September. Districts should also make sure they have successfully claimed students in order to view all EWIS information. Schools Interoperability Framework (SIF) –enabled districts must rollover their student information system and configure their SIF agent for the 2017 school year in order to claim their current students and view their EWIS data.
The Department invites school and district staff to register for one of two "Introduction to the Postsecondary Early Warning Indicator System" webinars. The webinars will be held on
- 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 13 and
- 10 a.m. Friday, September 16.
More information about EWIS is available online, and questions can be directed to .
CONTACT INFORMATION
We wish you all well, and look forward to an exciting and productive school year. We hope that you find the information contained in this newsletter helpful. As always, should you have any questions or need any assistance please feel free to contact us at:
- Shay Edmond, Innovation School Specialist, (781) 338-3217
- Shay is on maternity leave and will be returning in mid-October
- Ruth Hersh, Assistant Director, (781) 338-3211
- Alison Bagg, Director of the Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign, (781) 338-3218
- Office of Charter Schools and School Redesign (781) 338-3227
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